With the mana reactor now fully operational, Horizon turned to the next phase of construction. The framework was already completed, with the reactor online, he didn't have to concern himself with energy problems for a while now. But it wasn't enough, the base right now was all but an empty shell. He needed infastructure: forges, assembly lines, defenses and most importantly, a means to exapnd.
He waved his hand summoning a new holographic display, showing a new set of blueprints. This time the schematics displayed all times of machinery each would serve as a cog in the machine he called a base. But he was yet to obtain the required material to finish construction.
But he was patient, with the now completed mana reactor power could be steadily supplied to the miner drones. Now they could work in overdrive.
After a couple of days enough resources had been collected. They had succesfully cleared a part of the rocky area, turning it barren. Now the only place left was the ravine but it wasn't necessary at this point.
"Initiate building sequence." Horizon instructed.
The assmebly drone quickly got to work. They assembled at the edge of the disk. Removing a module from a compartment on their underside. They began circling the disk, liquid driping down the module, instantly hardening when meeting the outside air. They circled the disk a great number of times until a black wall 30 meters tall had formed. inscribed with the same circuitry as the floor had been. A red pulse travelled from the reactor lighting up the circuits on the wall bright red.
But the drones didn't stop there, they began circling heading inside forming the roof of the structure. The final product was a large disk-shaped building. 100-meter radius and 50 meters tall. Circuitry ran through its surface, all connected to the mana reactor in the middle ensuring it was all powered.
But Horizon was far from finished. He still had the space inside to finish.
Large amounts of molten manasteel flooded the complex, guided by Horizons will. The liquid metal slithered across the floor. It rose in precise formations as it as molded and shaped by Horizon's will into towering structures.
At the nothern sector a massive forge complex took place. Molding station took shape as automated arms extended from large machines ready to mold any metal into any shape Horizon deemed fit. A large smelting furnace was in the middle, outfitted with mana-enhnced coils that would melt most types of ores.
A series of inscription arms were to the side, here would wire spell code into the machine he brought to life improving their function and strength.
To the east the molten metal formed a different structure. An assembly nexus, a vast chamber with honeycomb-patterned floors. Here special units would be created. It was equipped with fabrication pods; cylindrical chambers that lined the walls, each capable of rapid 3D of special units.
To the west a vast storage bay where units as well as resources could be stored, large metal chests had been put into place. The storage was also outfitted with docking bays where drones as well as other airbone troops could stay, there was a hydraulic life that could lift them into the outside if Horizon so wished.
On the southern edge, perhaps the most important part of the entire structure. Here he had placed an analysis chamber, here is where he would be spending majority of his time. It was sleek in design humming in low power. It was built with a spellcode forge a workstation Horizon had implemented here he could Horizon would write test and refine his new form of magic.
Horizon stepped back at his work satisfied, all that was left was turning it online.
Red energy surged from the mana reactor flooding the structure, it flowed through the circuits like blood through body. Machines whirred as they were brought to life. The forge roaring as it was lit. The fabrication pods in the assembly nexus lit up awaiting commands
And commands they recieved.
"Begin production on sentinel drone units; number 13"
What the fotress lacked was defences, something Horizon would fix later for now the sentinels would have to do.
The fabrication pods roared to life as they small mechanical arms inside them began manufacturing the sentinels.
Horizon looked on pleased. He had finally secured a foothold. But he was unaware of the orc band enroute to him, aiming to eradicate him.